Staff MemberModerator

Women have been flying choppers in Afghanistan for quite awhile. Other females are in combat support roles (driving trucks, etc). My big concern is what will happen if/when a female is taken prisoner by the Taliban. They think all women are dirt under their feet, anyway. Would rape be added to the torture ?

As long as they don't change the requirements for entry into these fields, I don't have a problem. But I can see them making the physical requirements just a little easier, so they don't get compaints with too many females getting turned away.
I wonder how many will actually join combat arm fields, knowing in the current world situation that there is a good chance they will see combat ?

The male of our species is predisposed to protect the female. Not being sexist, that's just the way it is. I am afraid that it would add more stress to an already crappy situation.
Not to mention the extra interpersonal problems that will arise. It would give a whole new meaning to the term "fox hole" though.

The male of our species is predisposed to protect the female. Not being sexist, that's just the way it is. I am afraid that it would add more stress to an already crappy situation.
Not to mention the extra interpersonal problems that will arise. It would give a whole new meaning to the term "fox hole" though.

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And the female is predisposed to child-rearing?

Although a 'pre-disposition' will mean that it is true most of the time it won't be true every time.

Culture has a lot to say about gender roles, so I guess that is probably where we will differ.

Staff MemberAdministrator

I have mixed feeling about it. When I was in the USAF, we had a female SP (USAFs version of the Army, basically) who carried the M-60. There wasn't too many guys on that base that would dare tangle with her. There are some women that are tough as nails and others that are girly, don't want to break a nail. Having done some training with the Israelis may years ago, I can tell you that the women serving there are pretty badass.

Front line combat roles are tough, for anyone. The people that sign up for those jobs know the risks. It is a volunteer military. What concerns me is if there is a draft because of a future conflict, there is the risk of women getting drafted into those combat roles that don't want to be there. That would be very dangerous. Women have boobs, and to a young man, those are powerful. Distraction will get you killed in a combat zone.

Staff MemberModerator

According to ABC, the requirements to become a U.S. Navy Seal are:
Pass a stringent physical screening test that includes the following procedure: swim 500 yards in 12.5 minutes or less, followed by a 10-minute rest; do 42 push-ups in under two minutes, followed by a two-minute rest; do 50 sit-ups in under two minutes, followed by a two-minute rest; do six pull-ups, followed by a 10-minute rest; run 1.5 miles in boots and long pants in less than 11.5 minutes.

Staff MemberModerator

According to ABC, the requirements to become a U.S. Navy Seal are:
Pass a stringent physical screening test that includes the following procedure: swim 500 yards in 12.5 minutes or less, followed by a 10-minute rest; do 42 push-ups in under two minutes, followed by a two-minute rest; do 50 sit-ups in under two minutes, followed by a two-minute rest; do six pull-ups, followed by a 10-minute rest; run 1.5 miles in boots and long pants in less than 11.5 minutes.